User-object interfaces in an object-oriented discrete event simulation environment /
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1993.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | ProQuest, Abstract Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | Simulation is a powerful technique for the analysis of complex systems. However, simulation tends to be an arduous task involving many runs, configuration changes, and difficult data interpretation. The increased availability of object-oriented languages and sophistication of graphical user interfaces provides an outstanding opportunity for the development of interactive environments that challenge traditional simulation methodology. This research represents an effort towards simplifying and speeding up the overall simulation process with the introduction of an interactive object-oriented simulation environment. Access to simulation parameters and variables are limited to model construction and experiment evaluation in most traditional simulation environments. If the user had access to simulation objects while the simulation executes, and is capable of modifying them in a dynamic fashion, simulation experiments might be accomplished in less time. This is especially true if the environment is interactive, provides feedback regarding the state of the system, and allows creation of new objects without requiring a restart of the simulation execution. An interactive object-oriented simulation environment called SimBuilder was developed that features generic objects which may be interactively, iteratively, and recursively tailored by the user to accurately model a domain specific system. A traffic simulation model provided the domain specific implementation for this research. SimBuilder separates drawing objects from simulation objects. A mapping attribute allows the instantiation of the simulation object with default parameter values whenever the drawing object is placed on the simulation window. Distinctions between generic and domain specific objects are made within drawing object classes and simulation object classes. Tool palettes provide the user with objects for building a simulation within a specific domain. A Window class is defined that contains user interface methods and attributes. Windows are used to provide the user with state information regarding the executing simulation through progress windows and meter windows. A special Value Editor window is used to access the object parameters which can be modified by the user. Techniques were developed for use by any object-oriented language and direct manipulation windowing system that provide characteristics essential to user-object interfaces in an object-oriented discrete event simulation environment. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major subject: Computer Science." |
| Physical Description: | xiv, 148 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |